THE SIZE OF REGIONAL LYMPH-NODES DOES NOT CORRELATE WITH THE PRESENCEOR ABSENCE OF METASTASIS IN LYMPH-NODES IN RECTAL-CANCER

We evaluated the relationship between the size of regional lymph nodes and the presence of metastasis in them in rectal cancer. Of 1,064 lym ph nodes in 46 specimens, 133 (13%) were found to have metastases. A h alf of the positive nodes and most of the negative ones were less than 5 mm in diameter. Therefore, we must find lymph nodes smaller than 5 mm in diameter for assessment of lymph node metastasis. Although posit ive nodes were larger than negative ones, there was no significant dif ference. However, when comparing the size of lymph nodes in relation t o their location, the epi- and pararectal lymph nodes larger than 10 m m in diameter were highly suggestive of metastases, but the size of th e lymph node was not a reliable indicator of lymph node metastases in other situations. (C) 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.